Arrogance can be called a superiority complex, a sense of extreme self-love coupled with the false belief that one is better than everyone else. Those who are proud and arrogant often don’t realize their true state. Muhammad ibn al-Husayn ibn Ali said:

Man’s reason will be diminished in proportion with arrogance, sense of greatness, or pride he possesses.*

Allah (swt) shows the arrogant person his or her incapacity and lowliness:

And do not walk upon the earth exultantly. Indeed, you will never tear the earth [apart], and you will never reach the mountains in height. [Quran, 17:37]

Thus we can conclude that arrogance is not a natural state of things. It’s a disease– and it’s also curable if Allah wills.

The first step towards curing any disease is the awareness that one is ill.

Once we detect even a minute amount of arrogance in our hearts, we must act quickly, because it’s a disease that can spread rapidly, blacken our hearts, and block our paths to guidance. The Prophet (sa) said:

Man continues to display haughtiness and arrogance until he is recorded among the arrogant and will be therefore afflicted with what afflicts them. [Tirmidhi].

A good idea of what it means to be arrogant and what the consequences are can accelerate our cure, if Allah wills. The Prophet (sa) defined arrogance thus:

Some consequences of fostering arrogance in one’s heart:

Assuredly, Allah knows what they conceal and what they declare. Indeed, He does not like the arrogant. [16:23]

And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful. [31:18]

Allah will turn them away from His signs.

I will turn away from My signs those who are arrogant upon the earth without right; and if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. And if they see the way of consciousness, they will not adopt it as a way; but if they see the way of error, they will adopt it as a way. That is because they have denied Our signs and they were heedless of them. [7:146]

Their hearts and eyes are blindfolded by Allah, so that they cannot see guidance even if it stares them in the face.

Those who dispute concerning the signs of Allah without an authority having come to them – great is hatred [of them] in the sight of Allah and in the sight of those who have believed. Thus does Allah seal over every heart [belonging to] an arrogant tyrant. [40:35]

They will not enter Paradise.

The Prophet (sa) said:

He who has, in his heart, an ant’s weight of arrogance will not enter Paradise. [Muslim].

In a Hadith Qudsi, the Prophet (sa) said that Allah (swt) said:

Pride is My cloak and greatness My robe, and whoever competes with Me with regard to either of them, I shall throw him into Hell. [ibn Majah]

They are named the most evil person by the Prophet (sa)

Shall I inform you about the most evil person: they comprise of the repulsive and the proud. Shall I inform you about the best ones? They comprise the weak, indigent and the persons whom people treat without consideration. But, if any of them takes Allah’s oath that he will do that thing, Allah will fulfill his oath. [Ahmad*]

Reference:

*Ayoob, Hasan. Social Manners in Islam

Tabassum M is a freelance writer and a student of al-Salam Institute. She likes animals, natural beauty, reading novels, and researching interesting topics. She shares her reflections at the blog sections of Understand Quran Academy, IIPH and Ibana. Contact: tabassum_mosleh@hotmail.com